Disaster recovery in media broadcast system

Abstract

An edge device remotely accesses cloud-based media automation services by pointing an interface of the edge device to a cloud-based sequencer. Broadcast logs defining a broadcast schedule and media files specified in the broadcast logs are obtained from the cloud-based sequencer, and local versions are stored in a storage device locally accessible to the edge device. Availability of the cloud-based sequencer is monitored, and if the cloud-based sequencer becomes unavailable, the interface of the edge device is pointed to a local sequencer instead of the cloud-based sequencer. The local sequencer emulates one or more media automation services normally provided by the cloud-based sequencer. In response to determining that availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored, the edge device's interface is re-pointed to the cloud-based sequencer.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 remotely accessing cloud-based media automation services by an edge device including a processor and associated memory, wherein remotely accessing the cloud-based media automation services includes pointing an interface of the edge device to a cloud-based sequencer; 
 obtaining, from the cloud-based sequencer:
 broadcast logs defining a broadcast schedule; and 
 media files specified in the broadcast logs; 
 
 storing local versions of the broadcast logs and local versions of the media files in a storage device locally accessible to the edge device; 
 monitoring availability of the cloud-based sequencer; 
 in response to determining that the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable to the edge device:
 pointing the interface of the edge device to a local sequencer included in the edge device; and 
 emulating one or more media automation services normally provided by the cloud-based sequencer at the local sequencer; and 
 
 in response to determining that the availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored, re-pointing the interface of the edge device to the cloud-based sequencer. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 storing local versions of the broadcast logs and the local versions of the media files includes storing media files referenced in a plurality of broadcast logs, wherein the broadcast logs cover a plurality of upcoming broadcast periods; and 
 broadcasting the local versions of the media files in accordance with the local versions of the broadcast logs during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer, maintaining reconcile logs by the local sequencer, wherein the reconcile logs record any discrepancies between an actual broadcast and a broadcast schedule defined by the local versions of the broadcast logs; and 
 in response to determining that the availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored, transmitting, the reconcile logs to the cloud-based sequencer. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 negotiating with local sequencers associated with other edge devices to determine a local sequencer priority in response to determining that the availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 continually monitoring messages from an edge-device manager; and 
 determining the availability of the cloud-based sequencer based on the messages from the edge-device manager. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 determining the availability of the cloud-based sequencer based on at least one of content of a message received from the edge-device manager, receipt of one or more messages from the edge-device manager, or failure to receive one or more messages from the edge-device manager. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the edge device providing playout services for a plurality of radio stations during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the cloud-based sequencer, and during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer. 
 
     
     
       8. An edge device comprising:
 a processor and associated memory configured to implement a local sequencer, an offline controller, a media playout system, and a content replication service; 
 the offline controller is configured to:
 monitor availability of a cloud-based sequencer providing media automation services to the edge device, wherein the media automation services include content, schedule, traffic, and advertisement insertion services; 
 point an interface of the edge device to the cloud-based sequencer during periods of time when the cloud-based sequencer is available; and 
 point the interface of the edge device to a local sequencer included in the edge device during periods of time when the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable; 
 
 during periods of time when the edge device is pointed to the cloud-based sequencer:
 the edge device is configured to receive, from the cloud-based sequencer, broadcast logs defining a broadcast schedule and media files specified in the broadcast logs; 
 the content replication service is configured to store local versions of the broadcast logs and local versions of the media files in a local storage device accessible to the media playout system; and 
 the media playout system obtains the media automation services from the cloud-based sequencer; 
 
 during periods of time when the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer:
 the local sequencer emulates the media automation services normally provided by the cloud-based sequencer; and 
 the offline controller routes requests by the media playout system for media automation services to the local sequencer. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The edge device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 during the periods of time when the edge device is pointed to the cloud-based sequencer, the content replication service stores sufficient logs and broadcast content to allow the media playout system to broadcast media content for a plurality of days without access to the cloud-based sequencer. 
 
     
     
       10. The edge device of  claim 9 , wherein the local sequencer is configured to:
 store reconcile logs during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer; and 
 in response to the edge device determining that the availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored, transmit the reconcile logs to the cloud-based sequencer. 
 
     
     
       11. The edge device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the offline controller includes a negotiation module, configured to negotiate with local sequencers associated with other edge devices to determine a local sequencer priority in response to determining that the availability of the cloud-based sequencer has been restored. 
 
     
     
       12. The edge device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the offline controller includes a status module configured to:
 continually monitor messages from an edge-device manager; and 
 determine the availability of the cloud-based sequencer based on the messages from the edge-device manager. 
 
 
     
     
       13. The edge device of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the status module is configured to determine the availability of the cloud-based sequencer based on at least one of content of a message received from the edge-device manager, receipt of one or more messages from the edge-device manager, or failure to receive one or more messages from the edge-device manager. 
 
     
     
       14. The edge device of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the media playout system provides playout services for a plurality of radio stations during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the cloud-based sequencer, and during periods of time when the interface of the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer. 
 
     
     
       15. A system comprising:
 a processing system configured to implement a cloud-based sequencer serving media streaming end user devices and at least one edge device serving a plurality of media broadcast stations; 
 backend systems and services, accessible through the cloud-based sequencer, wherein the cloud-based sequencer delivers media automation services provided by the backend systems and services; and 
 an edge device, the edge device comprising:
 a processor and associated memory configured to implement a local sequencer, an offline controller, a media playout system, and a content replication service; 
 the offline controller is configured to:
 monitor availability of a cloud-based sequencer delivering media automation services to the edge device, wherein the media automation services include content, schedule, traffic, and advertisement insertion services; 
 point an interface of the edge device to the cloud-based sequencer during periods of time when the cloud-based sequencer is available; and 
 point the interface of the edge device to a local sequencer included in the edge device during periods of time when the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable; 
 
 during periods of time when the edge device is pointed to the cloud-based sequencer:
 the edge device is configured to receive, from the cloud-based sequencer, broadcast logs defining a broadcast schedule and media files specified in the broadcast logs; 
 the content replication service is configured to store local versions of the broadcast logs and local versions of the media files in a local storage device accessible to the media playout system; and 
 the media playout system obtains the media automation services from the cloud-based sequencer; 
 
 during periods of time when the edge device is pointed to the local sequencer:
 the local sequencer emulates the media automation services normally provided by the cloud-based sequencer; and 
 the offline controller routes requests by the media playout system for media automation services to the local sequencer. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 during the periods of time when the edge device is pointed to the cloud-based sequencer, the cloud-based sequencer configured to deliver sufficient logs and broadcast content to the edge device to allow the edge device to broadcast media content for a plurality of days without access to the cloud-based sequencer. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the cloud-based sequencer is configured to:
 in response to the edge device reconnecting to the cloud-based sequencer after a period of time when the edge device has been disconnected from the cloud-based sequencer, receive reconcile logs from the edge device. 
 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein:
 further including an edge device manager associated with the cloud-based sequencer, wherein the edge device manager is configured to transmit status messages to the edge device, wherein the status messages indicate availability of the cloud-based sequencer. 
 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 at least one media streaming end-user device determines that the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable; and 
 in response to determining that the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable, the at least one media streaming end-user device communicates directly with the backend systems and services. 
 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 at least one of the backend systems and services determines that the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable; and 
 in response to determining that the cloud-based sequencer is unavailable, the at least one of the backend systems and services initiates direct communication with the media streaming end user devices.